A home care service has denied cutting visits over fuel prices, a comment rubbished by one Dunedin client. Yesterday, the Otago Daily Times reported 91-year-old Elaine Shallish’s concerns her home care cleaning visits had been dropped from once a week to once a fortnight due to rising fuel prices. Her Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) cleaning service was scheduled for Wednesdays. Mrs Shallish said her dismay was confirmed yesterday when no-one showed up. However, RDNS New Zealand chief executive officer Carmel Conaghan told the ODT neither staff hours nor client visits were being reduced over fuel costs. ‘‘Client needs may change over time, resulting in an increase or decrease in service frequency, including moving from weekly to fortnightly services. ‘‘These adjustments are not related to fuel costs.’’ Elaine Shallish The support team worked with about 1000 clients across Otago, who would continue to receive care based on assessed need. Under the restorative model of care contract, registered nurses worked alongside clients with a goal of supporting independence. Mrs Shallish said the comments rang hollow as her needs were last assessed in 2024. The organisation needed to honour its contracts and restore weekly visits, she said. ‘‘I think they’re covering their bases, actually. ‘‘I don’t want to offend anybody or upset anybody, but don’t they dare lie to me.’’ On March 19, a RDNS staff member told her over the phone the weekly 40-minute house cleaning visit she received would become fortnightly and the change was due to funding cuts, Mrs Shallish said. The next day, after she contacted her MP, a different staff member told her it was due to fuel costs and the visit would be increased to one hour per fortnight, Mrs Shallish said. She previously said she planned to try to do some housework between visits, and was concerned for the wellbeing of others who attempted the work. Taieri MP and Labour seniors spokeswoman Ingrid Leary said government inaction on support for home and community workers left patients and clients in the lurch. ‘‘The government needs to urgently step in and sort out how it will support these workers who use their own vehicles to travel to often elderly or vulnerable people who need their help.’’ Yesterday the government indicated an announcement would come today on care and support workers affected by fuel costs. ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz
